Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1887-05-06


Once we rose and tried TO demonstrate,
but were sternIy repressed by Twala.
LET the law take its course, white men.
These dogs are magicians and eyii-doers; 1t
is well that they should die" was the only
answer vouchsafed to us.
About midnight there was pause. The
witeh-fnders gathered themselves together,
apparently exhausted with their bloody
work. ana we thought that the whole per-
Torrance was done with. But it was not so,
for presently, to our surprise, the old woman,
Gagool. rose from her crouching position,
supporting herself with a stick, staggered oil
into the open space. 1t was an extraordinary
sight TO see this vulture- headed old creature,
bent nearly double with extreme age, gather
strength By degrees till at last she rushed
about almost as actively as her lll-omened
pupils TO and fro she ran, chanting 10 her
self. till suddenly she made dash at tall
man standing in front of one OF the regi-
rnents and touched him. As she did so
groan went up from the regiment, which he
evidently commanded. But all the same,
two of ITS members seized him and brought
him up for execution. We atterward learned
that he was a man of great wealth and ini-
portance, being indeed, a cousin of the
kings.
He was slain, and the king counted one
hundred and three. Then Gagool again
sprung TO and fro, gradually drawing nearer
and nearer to ourselves
sHang me if don't believe she is going to
try her games on us" calculated Good, i'll
horror.
"Nonsenser' said Sir Henry.
As for myself, as 1 saw that old ticnd
dancing nearer and nearer, my heart posi-
lively sunk in my boots. | glanced behind
us at the long rows of c0rpseS and sh!vercd.
Nearer and nearer waltzed Gagool look
ing for all the world like an animated
crooked stick, her horrid eyes cleaning ana
glowing with 4 most uuholy luster.
Nearer she came, nearer yet, every pair OF
eyes in that vast asSembIage watching her
movements with intense anxiety. At last
she stood still and pointed.
(which is ii 10 be?' asked Sir Henry TO
himself
Ina moment all doubts were set at rest,
for the old woman had rushed in and
touched Umbopa, alias lgnoSi, on the
shoulder.
Il smell him out" she shrieked. XIII
him. kill him, he is full of evil; Kill him. the
stranger, before blood flows for him. Stay
him. o king"
lBtIt Was Al bd'o'' WINCH L Alh7t"h1's
took advantage OF.
80 kingr' | called oct, rising from my
seat this man is the servant of thy guests,
he is their dog; whatsoever sheds the blood
of our dog sheds our blood. BY the sacred
law of hospitality | claim protection for
for him.
"Gagool, mother OF the witch doctors, has
smelled him out; he must die, white men,"
was the sulen answer.
NAY, he shall not die" l replied; 'he
who tries to touch him shall die indeed"
Seize him. rOaTed Twala, to the eXecu-
TONERS, who stood around red to the eyes
with the blood of their victims
They advanced toward MS, and then hcsi-
tated. AS for IgnOsi, he raised his spear,
and raised it as though determined to sell his
life dearly
Stand back, ye dogs" | shouted, ''if We
would see tO-mOrrOwS light Touch one
hair of his head and your king dies" and [
covered Twala with my revolver. Sir Henry
and Good also drew their pistols, Sir Henry
pointing his at the leading executioner, who
was advancing to carry out the sentence,
and Good taking deliberate aim at GagooI.
TwaIa WINGED perceptibly, as my barrel
came in a line with his broad chest.
well" | said, what is it to be, Twalaw
Then he spoke.
Put up your magic tubes" he said; we
have adured me in the name of hospitality,
and for that reason, but not from fear of
what we can do, spare him. Go in peace"
ut is we'll" | answered, uncOncemedly;
i've are weary of slaughter, and would
sleep. Is the dance ended"
at is ended,n Twala answered. sulkily.
II Of, q, In
of corpses, 'be flung out to the hycnas and
the vultmes;" he lifted his spear.
Instantly the regiments began in perfect
silence to defiIe off through the kraal gate
way, fatigue party only remaining behind
to drag away the cOrpSes of those who had
been sacrificed.
Then we too rose, and making our salaam
to his majesty, which he hardly deigned to
acknowledge, departed to our kraaI.
We'll" said Sir Henry, as we sat down,
having first lit n lamp of the sort used by the
KuI1uanas, of which the wick is made of the
fiber of a species of palm leaf, and the oil of
clarified hippopotamus fat well, l feel UNI
commonly inclined to be sick"
"If had any doubts about helping limbo
bopa to rebel against that internal black.
guard" put in Good, "they are gone now.
1t was as much as | could do to sit still while
that slaughter was going on. | tried to keep
my eyes shut, but they would open just at
the wrong time | wonder where Intadoos
is. UmbOpa, my friend, you ought to be
grateful to us; your skin came near having
an airhOle made in il.
Il am grateful, BOugwan," was Umbopas
answer, when had translated, land l shall
not forget. As for lntadOOS, he will be here
by and by We must wait"
So we lit our pipes and waited
CHAPTER NJ.
WE GIVE A SIGN.
For long whie-two hours, | should
think-we sat there in silence. for we were
too overwhelmed by the recollection of the
horrors we had seen to talk. At last Just as
we We're thinking of turning in-for already
there were faint streaks of light in the east
ern sky-we heard the sound of steps. Then
came the challenge Of the sentry, who was
posted at the kraal gate, which was appar-
entity answered, though not in an audible
tone, for the steps came on; and i'll another
second nfadooS had entered the hut, fol-
lowed 10y some half dozen stately looking
chiefs.
MY lords" he said, 81 have come accor d.
ing to my word. My lords and lgnosi, right
me these men, pointing to the row of
chiefs, who are great men among us, hav-
Ing each one of them the command of three
thousand soldiers, who live to do their bid
ding, under the kings. | have told them
OF what have seen, and what my ears have
heard. Now let them also see the sacred
snake around thee, and hear thy story, lgno-
81, that they may say whether or no they
Will make couSp with thee AGAINST rIvpla
the king"
For answer Ignosi again stripped off his
girdle, and exhibited the snake tattooed
around him Each chief in turn drew near
and examined it by the dim light of the
lamp and without saying word passed on
to the other side. Then Ignosi resumed his
mocha, and addressing them, repeated the
history he had detailed in the morning.
Now yc have heard, chief" said Iufa.
docs, when he had done, what say We; will
We stand by this man and help him to his
fathers throne, or will We not? The land
cries out against Twala, and the blood of the
people flows like the waters in spring. Ye
have seen tonight Two other chiefs there
were with whom had in my mind to speak,
and where are they now? The hyenas
howl over their corpseS. Soon will We be as
they are if We strike not Choose then, my
brothers"
The eldest of the six men, n short thick
set warrior with white hair. stepped forward
A pace and answered.:
Thy words are true, InfadooS; the land
cries out My own brother is among those
who died tonight; but this is a great matter
and the thing is hard to believe. How know
we that if we lift our spears it may not be
for an impOstOr2 1t is q c-rpst rnattar | say